Denis Tiuliulin targeted as UFC Columbus short-notice replacement vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev

The UFC Columbus lineup slightly has been tweaked.

The promotion is targeting a new opponent, Denis Tiuliulin, for undefeated Aliaskhab Khizriev. Pending bout finalization, Tiuliulin will step in for Abusipyan Magomedov at UFC on ESPN 33.

Three people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

UFC on ESPN 33 takes place March 26 at Nationwide Arena. The main card airs on ESPN after prelims on ESPN+.

Tiuliulin (10-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has become a main training partner of UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland in recent months. He has won four of his past five fights, all by TKO or knockout.

Pending unforeseen issue, Khizriev (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will finally make his promotional debut after four cancellations. “The Black Wolf” has seven finishes in 13 victories, including a swift 50-second submission of Henrique Shiguemoto on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020.

With the change, the UFC Columbus lineup includes:

• Curtis Blaydes vs. Chris Daukaus
• Alexa Grasso vs. Joanne Wood
• Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
• Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France
• Max Griffin vs. Neil Magny
• Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik
• Danaa Batgerel vs. Chris Gutierrez
• David Dvorak vs. Matheus Nicolau
• Sara McMann vs. Karol Rosa
• Tucker Lutz vs. Seungwoo Choi
• Marc Diakiese vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
• Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Denis Tiuliulin
• Luis Saldana vs. Bruno Souza
• Nate Landwehr vs. David Onama